Henry Hancock was a prominent Los Angeles lawyer and surveyor. He worked as Los Angeles City Surveyor and United States Deputy Surveyor in the 1850s. Hancock surveyed most of the large ranches between Monterey and San Diego in California.

A view along the waterfront, showing a row of boats tied up at the docks. On the right is a covered structure where crowds of onlookers wait for the sailors to disembark. The oil wells on Signal Hill are visible in the distance.